ALLENTOWN, PA (July 28, 2021) – Mack Trucks today hosted President Joe Biden at its Lehigh Valley Operations (LVO) facility in Macungie, Pennsylvania, where all Mack heavy-duty models for North America and export are assembled. President Biden stressed the importance of American manufacturing, buying American products and good-paying jobs during remarks made at the facility.
“We are honored that President Biden chose to visit Mack Trucks today,” said Martin Weissburg, president of Mack Trucks. “This week marks the 121st anniversary of Mack Trucks, and we are very pleased to celebrate this milestone with the President. Mack is part of the only heavy-duty truck manufacturing group to assemble all of its trucks exclusively in the U.S. for this market.”
Mack recently completed an $84 million investment in plant improvements at LVO, which included the insourcing of chassis assembly, the addition of new equipment and a 300,000 square-foot expansion of the facility. The plant upgrades were completed in 2020. LVO currently employs more than 2,500 people and plans to hire up to 400 more this year.
During Wednesday’s visit, Biden met with employees, including those represented by United Auto Workers Local 677, and toured LVO, learning about Mack’s assembly process, its supply chain, and Mack’s commitment to battery-electric vehicles. Biden was able to see firsthand the Mack LR Electric battery-electric refuse vehicle, Mack’s first fully electric Class 8 truck.
Mack emphasized to Biden the importance of robust funding investments in infrastructure for zero-emissions vehicles (ZEV), as well as for all types of transportation.
“We need these types of investments to support American manufacturing’s competitiveness in the global economy and to prepare for innovative technologies like the Mack LR Electric,” Weissburg said.
“President Biden’s visit to Mack Trucks spotlights the importance of manufacturing and good-paying jobs to the U.S. economy, and we are pleased to have hosted him at our facility,” said Gunnar Brunius, vice president and general manager of LVO.
CAPTION: Mack Trucks today hosted President Joe Biden at its Lehigh Valley Operations (LVO) facility in Macungie, Pennsylvania, where all Mack heavy-duty models for North America and export are assembled. Biden stressed the importance of American manufacturing, buying American products and good-paying jobs during remarks made at the facility. Photo 1: Left to Right, UAW Local 677 Shop Chairman Kevin Fronheiser, President Joe Biden and Martin Weissburg, Mack Trucks president, at Mack’s LVO facility. Photo 2: Left to Right, Stephen Villanueva-Medina, flex technician; Glenn Gray, Production Supervisor; President Joe Biden; Martin Weissburg, Mack Trucks president; and Kevin Fronheiser, UAW Local 677 shop chairman, talk during a tour of Mack’s LVO facility. Photo 3: Left to Right, Jacob Evans, business team leader; Heather Bouchard, flex technician; and Shawn Smith, final technician, with President Joe Biden by the Mack LR Electric refuse vehicle.
Mack Defense, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mack Trucks, is responsible for the sale of heavy-duty trucks to federal- and ministerial-level customers globally. For more information, please visit www.mackdefense.com.
Mack Defense, LLC, is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment, and marine and industrial engines. The Group also provides complete solutions for financing and service. The Volvo Group, which employs almost 100,000 people, has production facilities in 18 countries and sells its products in more than 190 markets. In 2018, the Volvo Group’s sales amounted to about $43 billion. The Volvo Group is a publicly held company headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. For more information, please visit www.volvogroup.com.